When on-loan Benfica forward Rodrigo Moreno produced a delightful finish to put Owen Coyle's men ahead in the 54th minute, the stage was set for the Trotters to emerge victorious.

Wigan had already lost on-loan playmaker Tom Cleverley to a hamstring strain in the 12th minute and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was carried off on a stretcher shortly after the hour mark with a head injury following an accidental collision with Johan Elmander.

Yet Wigan refused to lie down and Dutchman Ronnie Stam, a summer signing from FC Twente, stabbed home at the far post in the 80th minute to claim his first Wigan goal and earn his side a precious point.

Martinez - whose squad was already depleted - said: "We came here with four major injuries and a suspension, then we went 1-0 down and had the two injuries.

"To lose Tom Cleverley, who has been a really inspirational player, and you are limited.

"But it's about how you react. It's all too easy to accept defeat and look to the next game. That wasn't the attitude.

"We got the goal and the character that we showed was a platform that we need for the next 17 games.

"We think Tom will be out for three to four weeks but he's only 21 and is very fit, so he should be back quicker than most other players."

Referee Phil Dowd's decision to show Stam a yellow card led Martinez to accuse the official of lacking common-sense.

"We are putting the players into such a demanding, stressful environment, with five games in 13 days," said Martinez.

"We don't need quantity, we need quality and we play too many games.

"You see Ronnie Stam giving his all and enjoying his celebration, so you need to show a bit of common-sense."

Kirkland was making his first start for Wigan since October following a recent loan spell with Leicester and was taken to hospital, although the initial prognosis was positive.

"The first report is good," said Martinez of Kirkland, before paying tribute to replacement Mike Pollitt, 38, for a number of fine saves to deny Bolton a winner.

"Chris is going to be in hospital for 24 hours as a precaution but the first report was very, very positive.

"Mike Pollitt is a clear example in our football club of how a professional should behave.

"If you are looking at day to day, his standards are fantastic. I need to keep reminding myself how old he is because of the enthusiasm with which he works.

"But he got his rewards today and kept a very clean sheet from his point of view."

Bolton mounted a late rally but Elmander was denied by a superb save from Pollitt and Fabrice Muamba blazed over from six yards.

Coyle felt his side should have emerged with all three points.

The Scot said: "If you had offered Wigan a point beforehand I'd suggest they would have done handstands to get it.

"But I said to the players at half-time that if we took more care with the ball then we could cut them open.

"And if truth be told we did that on numerous occasions, scoring a wonderful goal through such a talented player who is only 19.

"We had chance upon chance, never took them, but we switched off and got punished.

"My disappointment is in the goal that we lost because it has cost us the three points."